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Using BOGO (buy one, get one) free coupons & sales can be very confusing so I decided they deserved a lesson of their own!
Almost all grocery stores when then they have BOGO free sales items will ring them up half price at the register. In other words, instead of ringing up the first item at full price and the second one at $0 (or taking it off at the end) they ring both items up at 1/2 price. The registers are set to ring up all BOGO free items at 1/2 price no matter how many of the items you purchase.
This great because it allows you to use a separate coupon on each of the 2 items, saving alot more money! This great also because most stores will allow you to just purchase one of the items at 1/2 price.
I do this when I only have one coupon for the item or I just want one item.
For example:
Say, Homeland has paper towels on sale BOGO free this week and the cost of the paper towels is $3.00. You put 2 packs of the paper towels in your cart and when you get to the register the cashier rings the paper towels up at $1.50 each. You have 2 coupons for $1 off the paper towels. The cashier takes off both coupons and you get the paper towels for $.50 each! Maybe you only had one $1/1 coupon for the paper towels, you could just buy one pack and the cashier would still ring it up at $1.50 and you’d get the paper towels for $.50.
Using BOGO free coupons with BOGO free sales will depend on your individual store. Some will let you and some won’t. If they do you’ll end up getting 2 of the items for the half price amount.
Instead of getting the paper towels at Homeland for $.50 each, you’ll get them 2/$.50.
Other store like CVS will take off the BOGO free item at the end, will allow you to use 2 coupons or they will allow you to use a BOGO free coupon on a BOGO free sale! That means you’ll bet both items free!
For example:
CVS has Dove shampoo BOGO free – reg. price $3.99 (sale price 2/$3.99)
You have a BOGO Free Dove shampoo coupon.
You check out and the cashier scans your Extra Care card
The cashier will ring both items up at $3.99
She puts in your BOGO free coupon and it takes $3.99 off
She finalizes your transaction and the register takes off the remaining shampoo because of the sale.
You receive 2 FREE shampoos- just pay tax!
If you missed any of our previous lessons just click on the one you’d like to view from the list below:
Lesson 1 – Coupons: Where to Find Them
Lesson 2 – Oragnizing and Storing Your Coupons
Lesson 3 – Shopping With Coupons
Lesson 4- Coupon Money Makers
Lesson 5 – Learning The Lingo
Lesson 6- Are You Really Saving Money and Other Coupon Traps to Avoid
Lesson 7- Coupon Fraud And Why You Shouldn’t Do It!
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About the Author
Queen Mum has written 10015 posts on ConsumerQueen.com.
Queen Mum does all of our store matchups and misc deals.She also Helps Melissa with Coupon Classes.
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
Great lessons. Thanks! Learn a lot.
You’re welcome!
could you go into more detail about using several BOGO free coupons for any item? i was told at target that i couldn’t use the BOGO coupon on the free item (the second item) to receive a second free item (actually the third item purchased). does that make sense? so that i’d essentially be paying for the only the first item.
I’m not sure what you are asking me but here goes, On a BOGO free sale you can only use 1 BOGO free coupon per 2 Items if your store allows this. You can’t buy 3 items and use 2 BOGO coupons. Here in OK at Homeland grocery when they have a BOGO sale they ring both products up at 1/2 price instead of 1 at full price then the second at zero. This allows you to use 2 coupons, one for each item. CVS & Walgreens both allow you to use a BOGO Free coupon with a BOGO free sale to get both items free. I’m not sure what Target’s rule is about this. But no store that I know of will let you use 2 BOGO free coupons on 3 items. If this is what you meant then Target was right. If I didn’t understand you right let me know and I’ll try again LOL!
How do you know which stores ring up each item at 1/2 price and which ones ring 1 at full price and one free?
Well, if you live in OK, Homeland does it. You probably would have to ask…..but most do it that way:)
I don’t know if you have addressed this or not, but on a BOGO where the second item is 50% off, can you still use two coupons? For instance if the store has a Buy One, get One 50% off, can I use a coupon on each one for a dollar amount off? Thanks
Yes, you can use 2 coupons on this kind of deal
I went to Target yesterday and got 3 deodorant secrets on clearance for 3.60 each. I used one B2G1 coupon and three $0.50 coupons. The cashier said that I’m not allowed to do that. I can only used one manufacturer coupon on each item. So she is saying that I can used B2G1 coupon and two $0.50 coupons. Was the cashier right?
Were all the coupons you were using manufacturer’s coupons? If so, then the cashier was right. When you have a buy 2, get 1 free coupon you are using that coupon on the free item….you can then use another coupon on each of the items you are paying for to get the free one. You can’t use more than 1 manufacturer’s coupon on 1 item. You were using the B2G1 coupon on the free item so you couldn’t use another coupon on it. You can use the B2G1 free and 2 $.50/1 coupons.
Thanks, Queen Mom! That certainly make sense.
You’re quite welcome!
ok question, I do have a bogo coupon and am hoping to use it on a bogo sale at walgreens and u were saying that I could get both for free, well this is what I am hoping but thinking about I am a bit confused. If both items ring up at half price, lets say half price is $2, so if they ring up for $2 each, and I have a bogo coupon wouldn’t I get one free and pay $2 for the other, with final total being $2 + tax???
Kelly, only the grocery stores do the 1/2 thing. CVS and Walgreens both just take off the free item when they total your purchases so it will work like this: You buy the two items, the cashier subtotals your order -you give the cashier your bogo free coupon and one of the items is subtracted from your bill. When the cashier hits total the one you get free as a store promo comes off so you get them both free! Now some cashiers at Walgreens don’t know their coupon policy and may question you but you have to look at it like this….whether you used a coupon or not Walgreens would be giving you a free item anyway and writing it off. They will still be getting reimbursed for the manufacturer’s coupon, so it doesn’t change anything for them.
How would a BOGO free coupon work for a sale item that is BOGO 50%?
Thank You for the great couponing lessons! I can’t wait to get started!
You’re welcome AMY!!
Can I use a $1.00 off two coupon if the store is having a bogo free sale? walgreens has lysol cleaner bogo free, can I use the $1.00 off two coupon with it? I am not sure if that would work or not.
Yes, both Walgreens and CVS allow you to use up to 2 coupons on a BOGO sale so a $1.00/2 would work
Great! Thank you so much for the tip!
I would like to know the answer to Kris question “How would a BOGO free coupon work for a sale item that is BOGO 50%?”
It doesn’t work very well….you end up just getting a BOGO free deal. They will usually just take off the 50% price and you get both items for the price you pay for 1 item. BOGO free coupons are better for BOGO free sales especially at CVS & Walgreens where you would get both items free.
i have a coupon for gillette bodywash but one get one free and walgreens have it for buy one get one half off. the cost of the gillette is 4.99 and i have several coupons what do i do?
Tiana, save your BOGO free coupons for a BOGO free sale. You won’t save as much if you use it on a BOGO 50% OFF. If you use it on a BOGO 50% off they will just take off the 50% one and you’ll get both items for the price of one. I’d wait until Walgreens or CVS has the body wash BOGO free or use it at Walmart where it’s alot cheaper.
I just want to note for anyone who grocery shops at Price Chopper (in New England), this is sadly not the case for us. If the store sale is BOGO Free, it rings up as such- full price for first item and second item free. And in their policy it states that you cannot use a coupon on a free item.
Thanks KK!
Hi there! Also an Okie!
I have a question about a BOGO Free coupon I have. Can I use two coupons to get both items free? Or can I use one coupon and another coupon with a $1 off? Both manuf coupons.
Thanks!
Unfortunately you can’t use more than one manufacturer’s coupon per item so you couldn’t use 2 BOGO free coupons on 2 items. Now it will depend on your store about the $1.00/1 and BOGO free together. Most stores will not allow this even though it’s ok to do. The stores have the right to refuse any coupon so if they won’t take it then you won’t be able to do it.
ok. so i’ve been reading the comments and i have a question. i went to target today and bought one old spice deodorant, one old spice body spray and (would have gotten) one old spice body wash for free. i had a buy any one old spice item get one free body wash coupon, and one coupon for $1 off of any two old spice body items; both were manufacture coupons. needless to say the cashier informed me that i was not able to use both coupons; her supervisor agreed with her. i thought i would be using the $1 off coupon on my two non body wash items and use the free body wash coupon on the body wash. am i wrong? now, i’m so confused about how these coupons work; and i use them all the time!!
Target just changed their coupon policy: If you use a BOGO Free manufacturer’s coupon you can’t use another manufacturer’s coupon on the same two items.
How does a buy one get one 50% off coupon work if the sale item is also buy one get one 50% off??
I have to say I’ve never had a coupon for BOGO 50% off so I’m not sure LOL!! It would probably only take off the other 50% making it a BOGO free deal.
If I have b2g1 free coupons and the store is having a sale for b1g1, what do I have to get to get the best deal
The only way you could do that is buy 3….you’d have to pay for one so it would be 3 for the price of one:)
one question im confused a little….
walgreens has a bogo half off … n i have a bogo free …. i also have a 1$ off coupon on the item u have to buy…. can i use them bioth on both items???????
ex i buy the old spice body wash n get the deodorant half off…. but i have a buy one osbw n get osdeodorant free…. n i have also a 1$ off coupon on a old spice body wash…. HELP here…. can i use them all…..????
I would have to say no….most stores have changed their coupon policy to not allow an additional coupon to be used on an item you are paying for when using a BOGO free sale. It will depend on your Walgreens.
I have a friend who uses 2 BOGO coupons at walgreens and gets both items free. I’m not talking about when walgreens has a BOGO sale, then uses a coupon in addition. I mean if it is a BOGO coupon for Buy one Dove shampoo get one free, they allow her to bring two dove shampoos to the register and use two BOGO coupons to get both free. My walgreens does not do this, I am wondering if anyone knows anything about this? I asked Jill Cataldo and she said it was true but I want some concrete evidence!!!
Walgreen’s may let her but it shouldn’t be done! That Walgreen’s is cheating the manufacturer which expects 2 items to be bought per coupon! If they are sending in 2 BOGO free coupons for only 2 items bought they are getting money for something was not purchased! I can tell you that what she is doing is NOT what the manufacturer had in mind when they put out the coupon …my advise is don’t do it
so im a bit confused walgreeens has a sale on gillete body wash and its bogo 50% off and i have a BOGo free coupon can i use this and a $1/2 along with it?
You can only use 1 manufacturer’s coupon per item…..the $1.00/2 coupon attaches to both items so you couldn’t use it with a BOGO free coupon. Hope this helps